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The Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism Board (ACED) has announced that Valerie Reinke has been hired as the new ACED Executive Director. Reinke has served on the ACED Board of Directors since 2008 and has been employed by New Albin Savings Bank for the past six years.
“I am passionate about Allamakee County and I am happy to be here," Reinke said of her new position. "I am looking forward to working with business owners, city council members, county supervisors and visitors to the county.”
Everyone is welcome to stop in and visit with Reinke. A meet and greet coffee hour is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 from 9-10 a.m. at the ACED office located at 101 West Main Street in Waukon.
Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism's mission is to promote economic growth through the growth and expansion of new and existing industry, service and retail business and to promote tourism for the county.
 

The Allamakee County Sheriff's Department and the Postville Police Department executed a search warrant Friday, May 8 at 12396 State Highway 18, Postville, the residence of Kim Neal Flatjord, age 61, of Postville. An arrest warrant was also served on Flatjord, who was taken into custody on charges of Third Degree Sexual Abuse (a class C felony), Solicitation to Commit a Felony (a class D felony), Administering Harmful Substances (a class D felony) and Invasion of Privacy (a serious misdemeanor).
The charges stem from an incident that took place back in September of 2013 in rural Allamakee County. The incident remains under investigation by the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department.
 

Thursday, May 7, the community of Lansing will host guided walking history tours, informative talks about historic restoration, wine and cheese tasting and displays of historical archive photos to celebrate the downtown’s designation as a National Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places.
Last September, Lansing was selected for this elite status. The Lansing historic district includes the address blocks of 100-401 Main Street, one block north and south on Front and Second Streets, and 190 John Street. May is National Historic Preservation Month as designated by the National Register of Historic Places, a division of the National Park Service.

The 18th annual Family Wellness Fair will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Health testing, exhibits and activities will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event, sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital, and held in conjunction with the end of the Live Healthy Iowa Community Wellness Challenge.

by Bob Beach

U.S. Senate Candidate Bob Krause will be in Waukon Thursday evening, May 7 to meet with the Allamakee County Democratic Central Committee. The meeting will be at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Krause is no stranger to Allamakee County. During his career with the Iowa Department of Transportation, he initiated the study on the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing to insure a long term maintenance strategy was in place to preserve the bridge.
Krause is also a native Iowan who has been a state legislator, school board member, top federal official in the U.S. Department of Transportation, national think tank director, colonel in the Army Reserve, international consultant, operator of a small business, and founder of an active veterans charity. Krause was raised on a Century Farm near Fenton in Palo Alto County, of which he is still part owner.

The New Albin Improvement League (NAIL) will be hosting an informational presentation Thursday, May 7 on Drug and Alcohol Trends in Allamakee County, with information presented by the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office and the Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention Council. The presentation will take place at the New Albin Community Center, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Information regarding the growing problem of substance abuse in Allamakee County, statistics, warning signs and a question and answer session will all be part of the presentation. Everyone throughout the county is welcome to attend to learn more about this growing problem.
 

Allamakee County voters will be asked to approve a $5.1 million bond referendum Tuesday, May 5 to fund the construction of a new jail and public safety center (see floor plan below). An election to fill a vacancy on the County Agricultural Extension Council will also appear on that May 5 ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that Tuesday, with polling sites and a sample ballot having been published in last week's issue of The Standard.
The proposed facility, which will house a jail as well as offices for Emergency Management, E911 and the Sheriff's Department, has an estimated price tag of $5.6 million, which includes the demolition of the Makee Manor building to make room for the new facility at that location north of Waukon along State Highway 9. The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors has pledged $500,000 to the project from the County's cash reserves.

by Bob Beach

The 2015 Waukon High School Prom is scheduled for this Saturday, April 25 at the current Waukon Junior High School gymnasium. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m. to the public for the 8 p.m. Grand March, with seating available in the Waukon High School Auditorium. Following the Grand March, coronation of this year's Prom King and Queen is scheduled for 8:30 p.m., after which community members will be dismissed. The ensuing Prom dance will come to an end at 11:45 p.m., and the annual Post Prom event will be held from midnight to 4 a.m. at the Waukon High School gymnasium - a change in location from previous years. Pictured are the senior class Queen and King candidates for the 2015 Waukon High School Prom. Left to right - Front row: Queen candidates Samantha Swartz, Katelyn Kolsrud, Allie Schwartz and Jacqueline Welch. Back row: King candidates Landon Sivesind, Adam Benzing and Jacob Ronan. Not pictured: Brock Waters. Standard photo by Bob Beach.